Sunday, August 17, 2008

Today is Nester's Window Mistreatment Party. I posted a few of my other "mistreatments" before, but today I decided to share my favorite decorating decision. Anybody can make granite and crown molding look nice, but transforming a "modern in 1982" apartment takes some creativity.

To prove my dedication to the Mistreatment Club, I took the curtains down just for a moment to share the ugly truth known as "before."

While I love how my kitchen opens to the rest of the apartment. I didn't love just how open it all was. Who wants to be in the sitting area gazing at the back of my toaster oven. I have kitchen clutter people!

What I wanted to create was a small window.

Ikea to the rescue! I got some Ikea curtains and hemmed them with iron on hem tape. I bought two five buck cafe rods and stretched them as far as I could. This way I could get super close to the ceiling. I have camouflaged the back of my kitchen counter. Another perk is that it hides both my dust buster and my vacuum.

It also created a "visual wall" for the hanging basket which doesn't always look this coordinated.

My favorite part is the ball fringe on the "valence" part. That fabric is part of the hem on these curtains! I used safety pins to rig "rings" for the curtain rod.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

I'm happy to report that I had time to sew this weekend! It really is my stress reliever of choice.

This is part of my shower gift for my cousin. Her bridesmaids dresses are brown and some of the kitchen stuff she registered for is that Martha Stewart at Macy's turquise-y blue. Also, grandmother (who passed many years ago) loved butterflies. In some small way it's like I am sending a bit of her spirit to the shower.

I used the pattern from Simple Gifts to Stitch. I had it on my list to try for a while now. While it is very easy to make, it's not my favorite apron pattern because it runs a bit big for me. For my own use, I prefer the Lotta Jansdotter apron which fits my shorter stature to a tee. However, my cousin is more vertically gifted than I. I think it will be perfect for her.

Borrowing from the Lotta pattern, I made this apron reversible. I find that quite useful when you have something splattery, you can use the plain side and save the pretty side! Also, I like the contrast ties.

I don't go to too many bridal showers anymore, but I think an apron and a cookbook is going to be my standard gift in the future. I received a few cookbooks for my shower and in the past five years I have whittled the collection to a few gems that will fit on just one small shelf. (Apartment living!)

Here are my two favorites!

How to Cook Everything is one that I used a lot that first year and now I use it as a reference for tweaking things. It really has (almost) everything. (I did discover that pomegranate recipes are missing when the Nutrition Network sent a load of pomegranates to our school.) The best part of this book is that at the end of the recipes there is a list of substitutions that can be added or exchanged.Applehood & Motherpie- I grew up in Rochester, NY and this is their Jr League cookbook. I grew up with these recipes as did Cliff. I was thrilled when his parents gifted me with my own copy! This one is in it's 13th printing. It's good- really good. This is my go to book for company food. This book has a 5 star rating on Amazon and it is well deserved!

Crafty Goals 2010

Jane

Look! See! Jane's Out of the Crayon Box!

About Out of the Crayon Box

Welcome! This is my very own show and tell for all the things I do out of the Crayon Box. When I am not with the Crayons or grading their papers, I am most likely making some sort of mess in the name of creativity.

Updated: My Many Colored Crayons- the blog about life in my inner city classroom is on hiatus (to use a Hollywood term) and is unavailable. Rest assured, things are grooving along in the Crayon Box and this year's Crayons are a vibrant mix of pastels, primary colors and of course, some hot colors too.